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Out of the six people who died from coronavirus in Mexico, four had diabetes. As one of the countries with the most number of diabetic individuals, Mexico is alarmed that they may be more vulnerable than they expect to be. 

The World Health Organization made it clear that people with diabetes and other complications are likely to experience severe illness caused by the contagious and sometimes deadly coronavirus. 

Currently, Mexico has the lowest number of retirement-age citizens among the countries belonging to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). However, they also have the second highest obesity rate and Type 2 diabetes. 

As of Tuesday, Mexico has 475 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 6 reported death. Four of the deceased suffer from diabetes and the other 2 from hypertension - both diseases are found to aggravate COVID-19. 

Dr. Abelardo Avila, researcher at the Salvador Zubiran National Institute for Medical Science and Nutrition, said the coronavirus is not only unless the infected person has an underlying condition which is the case for most Mexicans. 

Richard Cortes, Mexican health officer, agrees to Dr. Avila and reiterated that those who are obese and severely obese are most likely to develop complication if they are infected by the coronavirus. 

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Type 2 Diabetes and COVID-19

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or no longer produces enough of it. Studies see a correlation between poor diet, obesity and diabetes since 80% of diabetes cases are associated with obesity. 

Diabetes has the ability to damage the heart, eyes, kidneys, blood vessels and nerves. It is known to be the most common type of disease across the globe. Health officials show the chronic metabolic disease often runs in the genes. 

Nearly 10.3% of Mexico's population aged 20 and above suffers from diabetes. It is the second most common reason for health-related disease deaths in the country. 

High-blood pressure or hypertension is more prevalent affecting 18.4% of the population of the same age range. 

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in Mexico after it joined a free trade agreement with the United States in the early 1990s, making processed food readily available. 

Mexico is now the largest consumer of processed food in Latin America and the fourth in the world. About 75.2% of the population aged 20 and above is either overweight or obese. 

Dr. Jose Luis Mora, specialist in heart diseases and microbiology, said that the pandemic only makes the country's current issues worse. "The government is telling us that we shouldn't worry but all the same we don't see fast actions aimed at controlling the pandemic," she added. 

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has not ordered lockdown to other measures to prevent the spread of the virus because he is concerned about the country's economy becoming worse. 

A researcher believes that the government should have encouraged the public to change diets years ago. Recently, companies have stopped the government dietary health initiatives in courts. 

Mexicans are believed to be dying due to the government's lack of action towards public eating habits.